Day 2 – Fugen/Universal Sage Bodhisattva Retreat – Practice – July 2, 2019

“They are truly good friends of living beings, an excellent field of blessings for the living. without having to be asked, they teach living beings.  They are a place of tranquil happiness for living beings, a place of salvation, a place of protection, and a place of great reliance.  For the sake of living beings everywhere they become excellent leaders and teachers, great leaders and teachers.  They become eyes for the blind, and ears, noses,…

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Day 1 – Fugen/Universal Sage Bodhisattva Retreat – Practice – July 1, 2019

“Moreover, knowing well the abilities, natures, and desires of all with incantations and unobstructed eloquence, the obediently and skillfully turn the Dharma Wheel of the Buddhas. First, they have small drops of moisture fall to dampen the dust of desire, and by opening the gateway of nirvana, fanning the wind of liberation, and ridding themselves of the heat of worldly passions, they bring about the cooling quality of the Dharma.” The Sutra of Innumerable Meanings.…

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21-Day Fugen/Universal Sage Bodhisattva Retreat – Practice – June 30, 2019

Several days ago John Hughes, a member of the Sacramento temple and frequent participant in Myosho-ji Sangha activities shared with me a personal, private retreat he was planning on doing beginning July 1st. I really liked his idea and I began thinking about how I would like to follow his example. (You can find John’s blog at https://www.500yojanas.org/). The idea is based upon this passage from Chapter XXVIII, Universal-Sage Bodhisattva, Lotus Sutra. “World-Honored One! The…

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More On Prayer – June 24, 2019

Recently I was asked a question about praying for other people. As a chaplain and a priest, and as a matter of personal thoughts I have offered prayers for others.  Sometime my prayers for others was on behalf of someone else.  This situation occurred most frequently in cases where an individual felt they lacked the voice, the words, or the authority to pray for themselves.  Most often this seemed to occur among Christians, though not…

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